Cheetah Multirole Fighter Aircraft, South Africa
Key Data:
Type
Multi-role Fighter Aircraft
Crew
One
Maiden Flight
July 1986
Period of Service
1986 to 2008
Operator
South African Air Force
Manufacturer
Atlas Aircraft Corporation (Now, Denel Aviation)
Dimensions:
Length
16.18m
Wing Span
8.22m
Height
4.50m
Wing Area
35m²
Weights:
Empty Weight
8 210kg
Maximum Take off Weight
16, 200kg
Engines:
Engine type
Snecma Atar 9K50C-11 turbojet
Number of Engines
One
Thrust
10,500lb
Performance:
Speed
2,350kph
Service Ceiling
17000m
Range
1,300km
Ferry range
2,600km
Rate of climb
45,950ft/min
Wing loading
250kg/m²
Armament:
Guns
2×30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA 552 cannons with 125 rounds per gun
Rockets
4×Matra rocket pods with 18×SNEB 68 mm rockets each, OR 2×Matra JL-100 drop tank/rocket pack, each with 19×SNEB 68 mm rockets and 66 US gallons (250 liters) of fuel
Missiles
2×Python 3 AAMs, V4 R-Darter (BVR missile), U/Darter, V3C Darter
Bombs
8,800lb (4,400kg) of payload on five external hardpoints, including 250kg Laser-guided bombs (LGB), GPS-guided bombs, 250kg 'booster' bombs, a variety of unguided 'iron' bombs
